Toy with memory card receiving structure

ABSTRACT

A toy includes an enclosure, a socket, a cover, and an elastic piece. The socket is received by the enclosure and is configured for receiving a memory card. The enclosure defines a first opening for exposing the memory card in the socket and a second opening adjacent to the first opening. The cover is connected to the enclosure via pivot shafts. One end of the cover is positioned outside the enclosure, while another end of the cover passes through the second opening and enters into the enclosure. The elastic piece is fixed on the enclosure for causing the cover to close the first opening. The memory card can be securely received in the socket.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a toy and, particularly, to a toy having a memory card receiving structure.

2. General Background

Intelligent toys that are able to interact with users usually have a sensing unit for sensing the user's action, a memory for storing an interaction program, and a control unit for controlling the intelligent toy to respond based upon the user's actions.

If the memory is a memory card that is detachably inserted into a socket of the intelligent toy, the interaction program can be refreshed by replacing the memory. As such, the intelligent toy will be more attractive to the user. However, if the intelligent toy is roughly handled by the user, the memory card might easily drop and become detached from the intelligent toy. Additionally, the socket of the intelligent toy may destroy the intelligent toy's appearance.

Thus, what is needed is an intelligent toy which firmly holds the memory card, and has an unspoiled appearance at the same time.

SUMMARY

A toy with memory card receiving structure is disclosed. The toy includes an enclosure, a socket, a cover, and an elastic piece. The socket is received by the enclosure and is configured for receiving a memory card. The enclosure defines a first opening for exposing the memory card in the socket and a second opening adjacent to the first opening. The cover is connected to the enclosure via pivot shafts. One end of the cover is positioned outside the enclosure, while another end of the cover passes through the second opening and enters into the enclosure. The elastic piece is fixed on the enclosure for causing the cover to close the first opening.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present toy. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an abbreviated, isometric view of a human-figured toy according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded view of the head and the neck of the toy of FIG. 1, the head including a front part and a back part.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded view showing the front part of the head and the neck of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, isometric view of the front part of the head and the neck of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5-7 are cross-sectional views illustrating the front part of the head and the neck of FIG. 4, a cover of the front part in a closed state, a half-opened state, and a completely opened state, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a toy resembling a human according to an exemplary embodiment is disclosed. The toy 10 includes a head 20, a trunk 30 for supporting the head 20, two hands 40 and two legs 50 connected to the trunk 30, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, the toy 10 further includes a neck 25 for connecting the head 20 to the trunk 30. The neck 25 is hollow and includes a flange 251 on an upper end. The head 20 includes a back part 21 and a front part 22. The front part 22 defines a hole 225. The neck 25 passes through the hole 225 until the flange 251 contacts the front part 22. Screws (not marked) are used to fix the neck 251 and the front part 22 together.

The back part 21 and the front part 22 are connected to each other via hooks (not shown) to form an enclosure. The enclosure receives a nose driving unit 23 and a printed circuit board (PCB) 24. The nose driving unit 23 includes a case 231, a nose 230, and a motor (not shown). The case 231 receives the nose 230 and the motor. An end of the nose 230 passes through a hole 220 defined in the front part 22 and extends out from the front part 22. The motor drives the nose 230 to extend or retract.

The PCB 24 is positioned below the nose driving unit 23. The PCB 24 carries various electronic components of the toy 10 and includes a socket 240 for receiving a memory card 18. The front part 22 defines a concave 221 on a bottom thereof, and two openings 222, 223 in the concave 221. The opening 222 corresponds to the socket 240. Passing through the opening 222, the memory card 18 can be inserted into, or taken off from the socket 240.

The head 20 further includes a cover 27 to open or close the opening 222. The cover 27 includes a lip 270, a small extending board 271, and two small side walls 272. The shape of the lip 270 conforms with the shape of the concave 221. The extending board 271 extends backwards from the lip 270. The side walls 272 extend upwards from two sides of the extending board 271. Two pivot holes 273 are defined on the side walls 271, respectively. The front part 22 defines two slots 224 communicated with the opening 223, and forms two pivot shafts 227 on two ends of the opening 223. The extending board 271 passes through the opening 223. The side walls 272 passes through the slots 224. The pivot shafts 227 cooperate with the pivot holes 273 in the side walls 272 to make the cover 27 rotatable around the pivot shafts 227.

The head 20 further includes an elastic piece 26. One end of the elastic piece 26 is fixed on the neck 25. Referring to FIG. 5, another end of the elastic piece 26 presses the extending board 271 down and gives the cover 27 a closing force f to make the lip 270 in the concave 221 and close the opening 222.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the lip 270 receives an opening force f₁ to overcome the closing force f, the lip 270 will rotate to leave the concave 221. When the lip 270 is half opened, the closing force f causes the lip 270 to return to the concave 221 if the opening force f₁ is canceled.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the lip 270 is completely opened, the lip 270 contacts with the wall of the opening 223, thereby preventing the lip 270 from opening further. A direction of the closing force f passes through the pivot shafts 227, thereby preventing the closing force f from causing the cover 27 to rotate at this position. The lip 270 does not return to the concave 221 automatically even if the opening force f₁ is canceled. The memory card 18 in the socket 240 can be replaced through the exposed opening 222.

Moreover, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. 

1. A toy with memory card receiving structure comprising: an enclosure; a socket received by the enclosure, configured for receiving a memory card; a first opening defined in the enclosure, configured for exposing the memory card in the socket; a second opening defined in the enclosure adjacent to the first opening; a cover connected to the enclosure via pivot shafts, wherein one end of the cover is positioned outside the enclosure, another end of the cover passes through the second opening and enters into the enclosure; and an elastic piece fixed on the enclosure, configured for causing the cover to close the first opening.
 2. The toy claim 1, wherein the shape of the toy resembles the shape of a human.
 3. The toy of claim 1, further comprising a head.
 4. The toy of claim 3, wherein the enclosure is the head's enclosure.
 5. The toy of claim 4, wherein the head defines a concave on a bottom of a front surface of the enclosure.
 6. The toy of claim 5, wherein the first opening and the second opening are positioned in the concave.
 7. The toy of claim 6, wherein the cover comprises a lip, an extending board extending backwards from the lip, and two side walls extending upwards from two sides of the extending board, the lip is positioned outside the enclosure to cover the concave, the extending board passes through the second opening and enters into the enclosure, the side walls are connected to the enclosure via the pivot shafts.
 8. The toy of claim 7, wherein the shape of the lip conforms with the shape of the concave.
 9. The toy of claim 1, wherein the cover rotates around the pivot shafts to expose the first opening when receiving an opening force.
 10. The toy of claim 9, wherein the cover stays at a position where the cover contacts with a wall of the second opening where the direction of a force given by the elastic piece passes through the pivot shafts. 